May have hurt the motor <oops>

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clutchdust

Millionaire Playboy
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Took the Mrs out Sat night to celebrate her finishing the semester, and for shits and giggles we took the c3. She had a few to celebrate, of course, I (am a teetotaler) did not. I should probably note here that the floppy circuit board thingy on my speedo/tach cluster has taken a nose dive so I have no dash lights. Anyway, I was feeling a bit spunky at a stop sign and took off with gusto. I heard a little clatter and looked down just in time to see a flash of street light across the tach. It was somewhere north of 6500. :twitch: I'm not sure if the clatter sound was valve float, maybe the roller lifters coming off the cam, or worse, valves smacking the piston tops. I immediately backed off it and checked my other gauges. Water temp and oil pressure stayed good, but I thought I heard a little clicking/tapping sound now. Not sure if I'm just hearing something that's always been there or if it's new. Car still runs really strong and I don't have any oil or coolant leaks. Hoping it's something minor if I damaged it at all. Maybe bent pushrod? Looks like it's time to pop off the valve covers. :crap:
 
Hear a bent pushrod from 1/4 mile away....maybe just go over with a stethoscope

tachs will do strange shit when connections or filters are remiss....

:shocking:
 
I don't have anything sensible to say...........mine always clatters when I stomp on it but I know mine is toast. It's been running on 5 cylinders for the last two years awaiting my 383 build.
Just logged in to wish you luck, hopefully nothing is bent.
Exactly the reason why I'm going to run a rev kit.
 
Yep. A rev kit would have been good protection. What I really need is a rev limiter. But a rev kit too would be nice, especially since the heads I plan on installing plus the cam I have should still make power up to about 6200-6300. If it is damaged, I hope it's contained to the heads. I built the bottom end years ago for a long term engine but these heads have always been just temporary until I found the right set of aluminum heads.
 
Before you let off on the go pedal, was it still pulling? Or did it feel like you lost power?

I use a pertronix rev limiter. A bit pricey, but better than busting the engine.
 
Ummm, how to put this? It still felt like it was pulling, but not quite as hard as just a fraction of a second earlier. Barely noticeable drop. Make sense? Hell, the only reason I let off is because of the popping sound, not because I felt like I was running out of motor.
 
I've had mine past 6500 rpm in second gear.... I am going to get one of these MSD or Mallory boxes.... not that I need a better "spark" but these things have an adjustable rev limiter included for under $200 - cheap insurance if you ask me :drink:
 
I have an old Jacob's box on it now. I really like the ignition but I had to disconnect it as it started to cut out at high temps. I think that's mostly because of where I have it mounted, on a bracket between the fans and water pump. I suspect it will get worse and eventually die on me but if I move the box in front of the radiator or at least force feed it cool air, I'm betting it will work just fine. When it started cutting out on me was when I was doing track events and it would get really hot, like around 230*. Considering I already have it, it probably would be worth relocating it and trying again. That box has a built in rev limiter too.
 
I have an old Jacob's box on it now. I really like the ignition but I had to disconnect it as it started to cut out at high temps.
Click to expand...

That reminded me, any chance the "clatter" was ignition related rather then mechanical contact?
As in the ignition doesn't like 6500+?
 
I suppose it's possible, but I doubt it. I'm sure as hell not going to duplicate it just to find out! At least so far, it looks like whatever it was, it did no long term damage (knock on wood). Now that I've said that I'll just bet that when I pull the heads for the swap I find that it's eaten the cam and lifters. :clobbered:
 
If you had some serious damage like valves hitting the pistons I think you would know by now..... if the engine runs fine then it's likely ok....
Just to be safe you might want to pull the valve covers and verify the pushrods and rockers are ok....
If you bent a pushrod you'd hear it.....
 
Yep, that's on my to-do list. Right now I have the c5 pulled apart replacing the AC compressor. Once that's up and running I'll pop the covers off the c3 to verify. But I drove it about 40 miles today and she still runs like a top.
You know, the late c3 was really a turd performance-wise, but put some power behind it and it's a damn fun car to drive. I was thinking that earlier today while I was out. The c5 is way more comfortable and an all around better performer, but I just really enjoy driving the c3. I think it's just more... engaging.
 
clutchdust said:
Yep, that's on my to-do list. Right now I have the c5 pulled apart replacing the AC compressor. Once that's up and running I'll pop the covers off the c3 to verify. But I drove it about 40 miles today and she still runs like a top.
You know, the late c3 was really a turd performance-wise, but put some power behind it and it's a damn fun car to drive. I was thinking that earlier today while I was out. The c5 is way more comfortable and an all around better performer, but I just really enjoy driving the c3. I think it's just more... engaging.
Click to expand...

You know I went from a '87 to my '72, both verts, but the '87 was just flat tired too prematurely, weatherstriping was the biggie for me, and the clearcoat was gone....:cussing:

AND Faryland kept checking smog/etc once a year....I couldn't mod a thing without going nutz.....I had a chip in it, of course, must have added 50 hp, but had to go back to stock for emissions....

'72 is a hotrod as you know, so no .gov looking over my shoulder sticking their nose in my shit....

;):club:
 
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